"S-So it was just riding the train with Chihaya-nii!"
After getting on the train with Chihaya Tetsuya, Togawa Sakiko finally spoke, her face completely red:
"I thought for a moment it was... oh my! Goodness! What on earth was I thinking!"
Although Togawa Sakiko was indeed very mature compared to her peers, she was still, at the end of the day, a young girl in the bloom of youth, right in the midst of adolescence.
Faced with Chihaya Tetsuya's vague and ambiguous request, it was probably normal for her to have a misunderstanding!
As for why she agreed so decisively even with that misunderstanding...
...
Well, as for the specific reason, who knows?
"?"
On the other side, Chihaya Tetsuya cast a somewhat puzzled look at Togawa Sakiko.
For some reason, ever since they got on the train, Togawa Sakiko had been restless and uneasy, constantly muttering incomprehensible things. But judging from her flushed face and non-resistant tone, she didn't seem to be troubled by his sudden invitation.
"We could have talked in the studio, but if it's here... I think I can probably say things I normally can't."
It wasn't until the train started moving that Chihaya Tetsuya finally spoke:
"I'm sorry, Togawa. I know I just said I wouldn't bother you for personal reasons, but... if I can't resolve this issue, it'll probably be hard for me to concentrate on the upcoming work."
"...Ah, it's okay! I don't mind at all!"
Togawa Sakiko quickly shook her head:
"On the contrary, the fact that you're willing to confide in me at a time like this... makes me very happy!"
This feeling of being trusted by someone she respected was a great encouragement for Togawa Sakiko.
And... chatting with Chihaya Tetsuya like close friends on the evening train also made Togawa Sakiko feel very safe and comfortable.
"So... why aren't you happy at all, Chihaya-nii, even though you've taken on such an amazing job?"
Togawa Sakiko asked proactively:
"Is it because you don't like designing stage outfits?"
"...It doesn't have much to do with the outfits themselves."
After the last design, stage outfits were no longer a technical blind spot for Chihaya Tetsuya.
What he wanted to confide in Togawa Sakiko about was actually something completely unrelated to clothing—
"Togawa... if, and I'm just saying if, there was a companion who depended on you, whom you saw as a treasure and a miracle, but you were forced to be separated from them for seven long years due to circumstances. Seven years later, when you meet them again, you find that they are walking a path... completely different from your own. In that situation, would you continue to support them unconditionally, or... would you just go your separate ways?"
"..."
Hearing this, Togawa Sakiko immediately realized that this must be about that unnamed idol.
When she was listening to the conversation between Chihaya Tetsuya and Director Hasegawa earlier, she thought that Chihaya Tetsuya would be as full of passion and enthusiasm for this job as he was last time.
However, after that, Chihaya Tetsuya's reaction was completely different from what she had imagined.
Silence, dejection, and even his eyes were filled with an irresolvable conflict.
This abnormal reaction made Togawa Sakiko recall Chihaya Tetsuya's unusual state when he was designing the stage outfit a few days ago.
If designing the pajamas was Chihaya Tetsuya being completely focused and absorbed, then designing the stage outfit was a frenzy that burned his very life force.
At the time, she didn't understand why Chihaya Tetsuya was pushing himself so hard. But now, after hearing the origin of this series of events, she felt she had finally caught a glimpse of the truth.
"So... Chihaya-nii, you still can't accept that idol's choice, can you?"
"...Eh?"
Faced with this unexpected word, Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but look stunned.
"You're saying... I can't accept her choice? No, no, no, how could I have such an arrogant thought!"
He hurriedly denied it:
"Not to mention she was just a child when we separated! We were apart for a full seven years after that! It's not strange for her thinking to have changed in any way! And... during the last job, I had already decided to cheer her on, so—"
"That was only because you didn't think you would ever have to take on another 'design' related to her, right? And when you have to face her once again, that excuse you had to escape... has become invalid."
Togawa Sakiko very directly exposed Chihaya Tetsuya's clumsy and useless defense:
"You should have realized it yourself by now, right, Chihaya-nii? That design, which nearly pushed you to your limit, was actually just an excuse you used to force yourself to make a decision. If you had truly accepted her change from the bottom of your heart, then you shouldn't be overthinking it now. You should just treat her as a regular client and complete her commission, isn't that right?"
"..."
Clang—
Togawa Sakiko's words, along with the rattling of the train car, struck Chihaya Tetsuya's heart.
He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but faced with Togawa Sakiko's questioning, he couldn't think of any explanation that would make sense.
He had fantasized countless times about the scene of reuniting with Hoshino Ai. He had also unrealistically imagined that when he, now a designer, stood before Hoshino Ai again, she would be proud of him, just as he had imagined.
However, when he heard Hoshino Ai's name again, the path she had chosen was the complete opposite of what he had envisioned.
This feeling of dashed hopes created an indescribable sense of crisis in his heart.
He, who had always seen Ai as a treasure, absolutely did not want to be disappointed in Ai.
And in order to stop himself from having such dangerous thoughts, the method he chose was a farewell after burning himself out.
That way, he could sever the last connection between them without any regrets, and thus never feel disappointed in her again.
However, he had never considered what he would do with these unresolved feelings if he failed to complete this so-called "farewell" as he had wished.
"But if we're talking about 'escaping,' then I'm the same."
Just as Chihaya Tetsuya was racking his brain, trying to think of how to "justify" his own cowardice, Togawa Sakiko suddenly spoke:
"Remember the topic of bands we were just talking about? Actually, I did form a band in middle school. The time I spent with them... was like a dream, happy and fulfilling. But at the same time, for practical reasons, I didn't have the luxury to continue enjoying our youth with them, nor could I show my face in public without a care. So, I was forced to give up that band..."
At this, Togawa Sakiko couldn't help but lower her head slightly:
"That day, I said some very cruel things to them, for only one purpose: to make them completely hate me. That way, I would have a reason to never look back on that past... Doesn't that sound ridiculous? Just because I couldn't do it myself, I wanted to force them to make the decision for me."
"That feeling... must have been very painful, right?"
Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but ask:
"To have to force yourself to speak ill of people you treasure so much..."
"It was incredibly painful. To be honest, I started regretting it the moment I said the first sentence."
A tragic smile appeared on Togawa Sakiko's face.
"But even so, I didn't stop. Because I realized that more than being 'hated,' I was afraid of being 'pitied'... Just like how you, Chihaya-nii, hope that idol will stay the same as she is in your memory, I also hoped that I would always exist in their hearts as the proud 'Togawa Sakiko'..."
"..."
Hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but fall silent.
In order to escape her companions' "pity," Togawa chose "hostility."
And he, in order to escape "disappointment" in Ai, chose a self-numbing "farewell"...
"Although I did take you on as an apprentice because we had similar experiences, I never thought we'd be so similar even in our foolish aspects."
Chihaya Tetsuya asked with a wry smile:
"I'm sorry, Togawa, for making you recall bad memories."
"I'm the one who should be sorry, for saying so many rude and presumptuous things to you, Chihaya-nii."
Togawa Sakiko shook her head.
"But compared to me, I feel that... you don't need to be as pessimistic as I am, Chihaya-nii."
"...? Why do you say that?"
"It's just a groundless guess... I just have a simple feeling that the person you treasure so much might also treasure you just as much. Even if she made a choice you can't understand, perhaps the reason isn't what you imagine."
Togawa Sakiko said as such:
"After all, you two once depended on each other. How could you so easily cast aside that memory?"
"...If you put it that way, I also think you don't need to force yourself to play the villain, Togawa."
Faced with Togawa Sakiko's speculation, Chihaya Tetsuya also stated his own opinion:
"Since you found unforgettable happiness in that brief period with the band, then maybe your companions felt the same... Even if you told them the truth, their reaction might not be 'pity,' but to stand with you and help you through the difficult times."
"..."
Hearing this, Togawa Sakiko fell silent. It wasn't until the train car rattled again that she couldn't help but shake her head in confusion:
"It's strange. I can't bring myself to believe in such a possibility at all, but when you say it, Chihaya-nii, it sounds so convincing."
"Me too. After hearing what you just said, Togawa, I suddenly feel like I want to believe in that possibility."
With that, the two of them first looked at each other strangely, and then both couldn't help but reveal a faint, unprompted smile.
"Togawa, shall we... make a bet?"
"A bet on what?"
"If we ever truly encounter the people we're each running from... when that time comes, why don't we try believing in them, just for once?"
Chihaya Tetsuya said as such:
"If they really respond as we hope, then that would naturally be the best outcome for us."
Hearing this, Togawa Sakiko's eyes lit up for a moment. But soon, she asked with a slight hesitation:
"Then... what if things develop in the way we fear most?"
"When that time comes, we can just properly comfort each other."
Chihaya Tetsuya said as such:
"After all, as members of the 'Fugitives' Alliance,' we'll always be the partners who can understand each other the best, won't we?"
"...Ah, you're right."
Hearing such a strange alliance name, a smile involuntarily appeared on Togawa Sakiko's face.
"The two of us... are probably indeed the partners who can understand each other the most..."
"...By the way, Togawa."
"Mhm?"
"For the last stage outfit, it seems President Watanabe wants to pay for it at the haute couture standard. As a thank you, I'll pay you a bonus of one million yen."
"...Eh? Are you sure you want to talk about money at a time like this?!"
Faced with this sudden topic of money, Togawa Sakiko was a bit dumbfounded.
"Never mind whether I should accept so much money, but isn't this topic a bit too mood-ruining—"
"From now on, please continue to guide me."
As if he hadn't heard what Togawa Sakiko said, Chihaya Tetsuya just continued on his own.
"Both as my assistant, and as my partner."
And after hearing that last, most important sentence, Togawa Sakiko immediately swallowed all her refusals and complaints, and revealed a helpless smile.
"Using such heartfelt words to shut someone up... isn't that a bit too cunning?"
However, Chihaya Tetsuya's direct and unpretentious way of doing things was also precisely what she liked about him.
"Phew... speaking of which, now that I've finally said what's been on my mind, something I've never told anyone before, I feel much better."
"You mean about the band?"
"Yeah... the evening train is a great place to clear one's head. I'm starting to like it here too."
"...Right?"
A hint of unprompted pride was added to Chihaya Tetsuya's tone.
"I knew it. If it was you, Togawa, you would definitely understand my tastes."
"...Ah, if that's the case, then I have to recommend something I like to you too, Chihaya-nii."
Togawa Sakiko said as she reached into her pocket and took out her phone and wired earphones.
"Let me recommend another song to you."
"Hm? What song?"
"[To Know You]. It's a song by a band I really like." -(Note: This is literally how it was written. It was written in english)
Togawa Sakiko said as she handed one of the earphones to Chihaya Tetsuya.
"Want to listen together?"
"Mhm, okay."
Chihaya Tetsuya nodded, then took the earphone and put it on.
...
...
"What do you think? Do you like it?"
"Mhm, I like it."
"Right? I knew you would."
And so, amidst the modern synthesizer sounds and the warmth so close at hand, this train carrying two "fugitives" with no destination slowly drove into the depths of the city's neon lights, and gradually dissolved into the vibrant night.